Basil

Use our zone-based planting guide to know when to plant basil.

Basil
Plant name Zone Start seeds indoors (spring/fall) Start seeds outdoors (spring/fall) Plant seedlings/transplants outdoors (spring/fall) Plant spacing # plants per person
Basil 3a April 1-15 On/around May 15 (after last frost) On/around May 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 3b April 1-15 On/around May 15 (after last frost) On/around May 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 4a April 1-15 On/around May 15 (after last frost) On/around May 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 4b April 1-15 On/around May 15 (after last frost) On/around May 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 5a March 1-15 On/around April 15 (after last frost) On/around April 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 5b March 1-15 On/around April 15 (after last frost) On/around April 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 6a March 1-15 On/around April 15 (after last frost) On/around April 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 6b March 1-15 On/around April 15 (after last frost) On/around April 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 7a March 1-15 On/around April 15 (after last frost) On/around April 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 7b March 1-15 On/around April 15 (after last frost) On/around April 30 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 8a Feb. 1-15 On/around Feb. 15 (after last frost) On/around March 1 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 8b Feb. 1-15 On/around Feb. 15 (after last frost) On/around March 1 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 9a Jan. 1-15 On/around Jan. 30 (after last frost) On/around Feb. 15 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 9b Jan. 1-15 On/around Jan. 30 (after last frost) On/around Feb. 15 (2 weeks after last frost) 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 10a Oct. 15-March 15 Oct. 15-March 15 Dec. 1-May 30 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 10b Oct. 15-March 15 Oct. 15-March 15 Dec. 1-May 30 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 11a Oct. 15-March 15 Oct. 15-March 15 Dec. 1-May 30 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)
Basil 11b Oct. 15-March 15 Oct. 15-March 15 Dec. 1-May 30 1-2 feet, depending on variety
4-12 (fewer for kitchen use; more for preserving/pesto)